Tank-car



`H. W. JACOBS AND E. n. LEVY.

TANK CAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23,1916.

L .N Q s mm. s Wm E m s M w m m b. I i I S n V. V o e n N w f t F w. wN W .m m m a m 9N .....,.......M.H H.H.H.H.H. ..,.H m mw L; Si um 1 EQ i /y Ww .u 3 W I I. U ,II Viv N @Q @L .II NN Ew Nw PN HNINI.I. WMMMMMU M .www w s I., W .n Nw m.. .www W Witnesses JMW H. W. JACOBS AND E. D. LEVY.

TANK CAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23,1916.

1,369, 1 1 1 Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

WLtTLesses Bvmvemws Httornegs the operator climbing onto or into the tank;

A UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

HENRY ,W. JiACOiBS, 0F TOPEKA, KANSAS, AND EDWARD D. .LEVYQ OF SPRINGFIELD,

MISSOURI.

TAN K-CAR.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed .Tune 23, 1916. Serial No. 105,360.

To all 'whom t may concern.:

Be it known that we, HENRY W. JACOBS and EDWARD D, LEVY, citizens of the United States, and residents of Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, and Sprin field,- in the county of Greene and State of lissouri, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tank-Cars, of which the followingis a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of our specification.

Our invention relates more particularly to the discharge means, the method of securing the means in place and the method of operating the same. rIhe invention has for its object the provision of a ,construction whereby access to the discharge means may be had, for the purposes of repair and the like, without the necessity of entering the tank, thereby obviating the delay and the danger that would otherwise be encountered.

Another object of our invention is to provide discharge means, or a valve, operable from the tank car exterior, and so located and arranged that the same may be operated from the ground Without the necessity of the discharge means beings'imple in design, economical in construction, and adapted to be sealed against improper or unauthorized operation. j A,

The advantages of our inventionwill be more clearly understood by the following detailed description of the accompanyingrr drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the tank car and our .im-i

proved valve construction; .with -thevalve being shown in open position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. llooking in the direction of the arrows. j

Fig. 3f is a vertical sectionalview of.' a

-modified form of our invention; the view being taken substantially on the same line 'as Fig.-1, 'with the valve shown in closed position.

F ig, 4 is a vertical. sectional View taken on the line 1--4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of another modification of our invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail View of a portion of the l center sill of the car underframe, shown in elevation, illustrating the method of sealing the valve mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In the exemplification of our invention as illustrated in the first two figures of the drawings, we show the bottom portion of a tank provided with a cast section or segmental member 10, adapted to be secured to the adjacent portions of the tank-shell 11 by means of suitable rivets 12 which are shown taken through the flanged sides of tlie casting or member 10 and the flanged portions of the tank-shell 11, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to provide a {luid-tight connection, especially if the segmental member 1() is made of castv metal, we show member 10 provided with a thin sheet metal plate 13 on tank-shell; or, if desired, a separate calking strip may be placed intermediate of the flanged portions instead of having the same integral with the metallic plate or coverin 13.

he member or casting 10 is'provided with depending portions or legs v15 disposed lengthwise of the tank car and adapted to i be placed intermediate of the center sills 16,

16 of the tank car underfraxne; the casting or member 10 being provided with shoulders 17, 17 adapted to rest on the center sills 16, as shown in Fig. 2.

The casting or member 10 is provided with adapted to receive the 18. The cage 18 is ulders 1.9 adapted to abut ly disposed shoulders 17s" i 16. As is evident ion. shown, the valve-cage L ily into place; the consuch that it may l @T provided with s ainst the la' or i.

be neming in cesti" E shoe.H

valve-cage above ded and entends Y 'a 3, M ll'., ing suitoole guiding i 26 w I moves upce *i if'. -T i A on .ts so.. ant ne ai downwardly to co" tube, the o':

, or lower, nor

`ie center sills nature of a v" maintain proper LV its seat.

The valve 20 is forced to its seat and maintained in closed position by a suitable spring 21 shown encircling the upwardly presented valve-stern 22. the spring 21 is mounted in the upper end of the valve-cage and held in place and under proper tension by means or the Spanner-nut 23, which is shown having threaded relation with the upper end of the valve-cage.

'The lower end of the valve 20 is shown provided with a flared or cup-portion 2d which receives the upper end of a lever 25. The cup-portion 2d permits the lever 25 to have sidewise movement during operation of the valve mechanism.

At a point beneath the valve 20, namely intermediate of the discharge end of the valve-cage or sleeve 18 and the valve 20, we provide a plug-valve 26, rotatably mounted in the valve-cage or sleeve 18; the latter, at this oint, being formed or bulged and provide -with diametrically opposite openings so as to receive the plug-valve 26 arranged transversely or the ca e or sleeve 18.

The plug-valve 26 1s provided with an opening 27 extending diametrically therethrough, as very clearly shown in Fig. 1, so that communication may be effected between the upper and lower part of the valve-cage or sleeve 18 to permit the oil to be discharged therethrough.

The lower end of lever 25 is shown ivotally connected to the plug-valve 26. he end of the lever extends into Vthe opening 27 of valve 26 and is pivotally secured to the valve. The valve 26 is rovided with a suitable socket or recess, t e orifice whereof lis shown somewhat in the form of a T to receive the lower end of the lever which is :inediti shown provided with laterall disposed trunnions which are inserted through the upper part of the orifice; the overhanging portions at the lower end oi the slot oriiice, as shown at 26, hold the end of the lever in place. lt is evident from the construction shown that when the plug-valve is rotated toward the left in Fig. 2, the overhanging portion or lips 28 will entend across the trunnions of lever 25 and preventthe displacement ci'2 the trunnions and necessarily cause the lever 25 to be drawn downwardly and out of 'forcing relation with the valve 20. l'n order 'to provide sufficient play viior the lever 25, the opposite wall ot the opening 2? in plug-valve 26 is shown provided with narrow slot 29 for the passage of lever 25 when the plug-valve 26 has been rotated to the left into the position indicated by :otted lines in Fig. 2. rlhe slot 29 in valve 'll permit the latter to be rotated to an ent sufficient to allow valve 2O to move downwardly and completely close.

'When desired, the plug-'valve 26 be surrounded by suitable bearing' metal bushings, as indicated at 30. The ends ont the plug-valve 26 are shown provided with trunnions 31 and 32; the trunnion 81 being preferably Vthreaded and extending through a bearing plate or washer 33, which is held in place by means of a suitable nut 3d screwing onto the threaded trunnion 31, as shown in Fig. 1. The plate or washer 33 and the nut 34,- as is evident from the construction shown, will maintain the rotating member or plug-valve 26 in place, (as the plug-valve 26 is shown tapering toward the end provided vvith the threaded trunnion 31,) and therefore prevent outward movement of the valve 26 toward the ri ht in Fig. 1.

The trunnion 32 of p ug-valve or member 26 is shown provided with aworm-wheel 35 which meshes with a worm 36 secured to, or formed on, the shaft 37 which is arranged transversely of the center sills 16, 16 and therefore also of the depending portions or legs 15, 15 of the casting or member 10. The depending ortions ofthe member 10 are provided with large openings, as shown in. Figs. 1 and 2, which permit the passage of the shaft 557-. At points coincident with these openings in the depending portions of the memberor casting 10, the center sills 16, 16 are also provided with openings of a size sufficient to receive the collars 38, 38 formed or otherwise secured to the shaft' 37, as shown in Fig. 2. Y

The ends of the shaft 37 have suitable bear-in in the bearing-members or blocks 39 an `4:0, which are properly secured to the center sills 16, 16 and surround the openings therein. s the openings in the bearing members 3 9 and 40 areof a size just suiiicient to receive the ends of the shaft 37, it is evident that the shaft 3T can haveno videdl with a suitable hole or orifice to re-v ceive the seal or member 43, see Fig. 2. The seall or member 43 may pass through the hole or orifice in the lug 42 and around a spo'ke of the hand-wheel 41, as shown. With the seal member 43 arranged as just described, ,it is evident that the hand-wheel 41 and shaft 37 will be sealed against operation and thereby prevent the accidental or improper nperationof the valve mechanism until the seal has been broken.

By turning .the hand-wheel 41 in the proper direction, shaft' 37l will be rotated so as to turn worm 36 therewith and cause the plug-valve'or rotative member 26 to be rotated through the meshing of gear 35v 'with worml 36; the. rotation of plug-valve 26 in anti-clockwise direction will force the i lever 25 upwardly and thereby exert up ward pressure on the wing-valve 20' against the actionof its -spring 21, inducing the valve 20 to be forced upward ofi its seat.

The rotation of plug-valve 26 in a direction which will force'wing-valve 20 upward off its seat, also brings the passage 27 of the rotative member or plug-valvel into proper alinement with the passage through theA valve-sleeve or cage 18 and thuspermits a proper outflow of the oil or fiuid contained 1n the tank. T he operation just described will result in the position of the valve as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

By rotating the plug-valve in the opposite or clockwise direction, upward pressure on lever 25 will diminish, 'allowing the wingvalve 20 to automatically close through the action of the spring 21, exerting constant downward pressure thereon. With the valve ,in closed position as just describedhthel plugvalve 26 will assume the `position very clearly shown in Fig. 3, bringing the slot 29 toward the upper part of the plug-valve 26 so as to afford passage for the lever 25; such rotation ofthe plug-valve bringingthe passage 27 into a position substantially perpendicular to that illustrated in Fig. 2;

The member or casting 10, at one side. of the valve-mechanism, is provided `with a suitable man-hole 44,-at which point, of course, the metal covering or sheet 13 is also provided with a similar hole,-of a size suiiiv cient to permit inspection and repair of the valve-mechanism located within the tank proper. The man-hole 44 is provided with a suitable cover 45, held in position in any suitable manner, as, for example, by the stud-bolts 46. The cover 45 is made fluid tight in any Vsuitable manner, as, for ex- .'form of our"` invention.

ample, by means of a gasket 47. The means such construction that the same cannotbe readily loosened or removed without a proper implement or wrench.

In Figs. 3 and 4, we illustrate a modified Thel construction shown in these two figures, like the construction shown in'Figs. 1 and 2, comprises the casting ormember 10, identical with the castingormember 10 in the first two figures, which forms a segment or portion of the tank; being secured to the shell of the tank in the manner previously described. *The casting or member 10 is also preferably shown provided with the depending walls or portions 15 adapted to extend intermediate of the center sills 16, 16, so as to provide anchorage for the tank. The casting 10 is provided with a similar tapped opening, like in the construction previously described, to receive the valve-cage-or sleeve 18 threaded so as to screw intothe tapped hole in the casting or member 10; and also provided with shoulders 19 which engage with the flange-portions or shoulders 17 of casting 10 and determine the proper posistood, ofcourse, that the sleeve or valvecage 18, likethe cage or sleeve 18, is intended to be screwed `into place from' the under side ofthe tank.

This valve construction also comprises a wing-valve 20, shown substantially similar to the wing-valve 20, arranged to move vertica-lly upward into the tank when 'forced off its seat;.the valve 20 being forced to andmaintained on its seat by means-of the spring 21 arrangedin the upper end of the valve-cage. The springis held by means of Spanner-nut 23, which screws into the upper end of the valve-cage; the spannen-nut 23, likethe Spanner-nut 23 in the first two figures, being provided with a central portion or hub Aadapted to provide bearing for the stem 22 of the wing-valve to aRord proper guidance therefor.

The valve 20 is also shown provided with a depending flared or cup-shape member 24 which receives the upper end of a lever 25 and'permits sidewise movement of the latter during operation of the valve-mechamsm.

At a point intermediate of the wing-valve 20 and the discharge or lower end of valvesleeve or cage 18, the latter is provided with a transversely disposed opening to afford a seat for the plug-valve or rotative member 26, which is `preferably shown tapering toward one end and surrounded with an antifrietion bushing 30. The bushing 30 is provided with openings arranged-innalinement with the passage extending through sleeve 18, The plug-valve 26 has an opening or port 27a adapted to be brought into register with both ends of the passage or port extending through valve-cage or sleeve 18a. ln the construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the valve-mechanism is shown in closed position, so that the port or passage 27a of the rotative member or plug-valve is disposed transversely of the valve-cage or sleeve 18a, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

rlhe lower end of the lever 25a extends into the port or passage 27a, and has its lowei` end trunnioned in the plug-valve 26a, to wit in one side wall of the passage or port 27a. ln order to permit the plug-valve 26a to be rotated into the position shown in Fig. 3, the plug-valve 26a is provided with a slot 29a wliioh communicates with the port or passage 27a extending through the valve, so as to permit partial rotation of the plugvalve `in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions; the slot 29a affording passage for the lever 25".

ln order to place the valve-mechanism in open or discharging position, it would be necessary to rotate plug-valve or rotative member 26 in anti-clockwise direction, so as to swing the passage or port 27a into alinement with the passage or port extending through cage or sleeve 18a. i Ehe plug-valve 26a is provided with the threaded spindle or trunnion 48 which is shown screwed into one end of the plug-valve and extends througha suitable opening provided in the center sill 16. yl`his end of the plug-valve is also provided with a suitable plate 38a which is shown overlapping the adjacent portion of the sleeve or valve-cage 18a; while the spindie or trunnion 48 is shown provided with a coil spring 49, one end whereof bears against plate 33a, while the other end bears against one of the nuts 50 screwed onto the outer end of spindle or trunnion 48. rl`his construction will prevent the plug-valve working toward the opposite or enlarged portion of the opening in the valve-sleeve or cage, because the plate 33a is held snugly against the end of the plug-valve by the spring which also abuts against the nut 50 screwed onto spindle or trunnion 48.

rlfhe opposite end of the plug-valve 26a is provided with a shaft or trunnion 51, keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the valve, and extending through a suitable hole or opening in the adjacent center sill 16; having its outer end preferably muared to either receive a handwlieel, as in the previously described construction, or a suitable w'rench.

ln order to provide suitable bearing for the shaft or trunnion 51, we provide a bearing member 40a, which may be secured to the center sill, as shown. rllhe bearing niember 40a is provided with a seal 52, which is adapted to pass through the slot 53 arranged in the shaft or trunnion 51 and a similar slot in the member 40a when the valve-mechanism is in closed position. The slot 53, in the trunnion or shaft 51, need not extend diametrically or straight through the shaft, but may be arranged in any desired inanner, whereby both ends of the slot will register with correlated openings in the bearing 40at when the valve-meclianism is in closed position. llVith this sealing mechanism, it is evident that the valve may be sealed against unlawful or improper operation, as 'well as be held against accidental movement.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, is also preferably provided with a manhole 44, provided with a cover 45 similar in every respect with the constructionl shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the cover-plate being held in place by stud-bolts 46, and the cover 45 made fluid-tight by means of a suitable gasket 47.

ln Figs. 5, 6 and 7, we illustrate a third modiication of our invention wherein the valve-cage or sleeve 18b is secured directly to the tank-shell, indicated at 11, by means of the lia-nge or collar 54 whichis preferably welded to the tank-shell. rl`he flange or collar 54 is provided with a tapped opening which receives the threaded upper end of the valve-cage' or sleeve 181. The valicage or sleeve is shown provided with a flange 19b which *makesl against the collar and determines the extent to which the sleeve or cage may be screwed into the meniber 54 and also afford a fluid-tight connec- 100 tion. rThe sleeve or cage 18b extends down between the center sills 16, where it will be protected, and has its lower end threaded to receive the usual pipe or hose-coupling.

The sleeve or cage 18b is provided with 105 the wing-valve 2Ob adapted to move vertically otf its seat against the action of the spring 2lb surrounding the stem 22h of the valve in the upper part of the cage. The spring 21h, like in the previously described 110 constructions, is held in position by the Spanner-nut 23h which is shown screwed into the upper end of the valve-cage and provided with a central hub-portion through which the stern 22h extends.

The bottom of the valve 20h is shown provided with a. culo-portion 24b which receives the upper end of a lever 25"; the cup-extension 24b permitting lateral play oi' movement at the upper end of the lever.

llhe lower end of the valve-sleeve 18b vis shown provided with a transversely disposed shaft 55, see F ig. 6, one end whereof has bearing in the side wall of the sleeve 18". The sleeve is preferably shown pro- 125 vided with a boss to rovide sufficient bearing for the inner en of the shaft 55. The other end of the shaft extends through a suitable opening formed in the side wall of the sleeve 18h, and is provided with a flange 130 or collar 56. The end of the shaft 55, adj acent 'the flange or collar 56, is preferably .provided with a plug 57, shown screwed into the enlarged portion or boss formed on the side of the valve-sleeve or cage; and the plug 57 is provided with a gland 58; both plug` `and gland permitting the shaft to extend therethrough. With collar 56 taklng against the plug 57, which has screw-connection with the sleeve or cage 18", it is apparent that the shaft 55 will be held against movement lengthwise of the shaft. ln the particular exemplification shown in Flg. 6, the shaft 55 ils shown provided with an extension 55a, preferably removably secured to the end of the shaft. has bearing in the bearing 40", bolted or otherwise secured to the center sill 16. The bearing-member 40b is provided with a lug 59, adapted to be engaged by the pin 60 secured to the shaft-extension 55, `and provide a sto whereby too far rotation of the shaft in either direction will beprevented. The outer end lof shaft-extension 55a is squared to receive a hand-wheel or suitable wrench whereby rotation of the shaft may be accomplished.

The shaft 55, at a point within the valvecage or sleeve 18", is provided with a crank or arm 61, to which the lower end of lever 25b is pivotally secured in any suitable manner, as, for example, by a cross-,pin removably held in place by a cotter as shown in Fig. 6. 1n order to permit sufficient rotation of shaft 55 in a direction to firmly seat valve 20", the lower end of lever 25h is sligitly curved or bent to extend about the sha t.

The valve 20" in Figs. 5 and 6 is shown in closed position, and in order to open the vvalve or force the same upwardly oil` its seat, it is necessary to rotate shaft 55 in anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 5. Thls will cause crank 61 to force lever 25b upwardly, thereby forcing valve 20b against the action of spring 21".

In order to prevent the unauthorized ma.

Fig. 7..

djacent the valve-mechanism described, the tank-shel1 is shown provided with a man-hole 44e.

In this construction, where no sectional member or casting is employed as in thev previously described constructions, the manhole is shown preferably welded to the tankshell like the collar or fiange 54. Both the man-hole 44a and the ange 54, however, may

The extension 55a' the center-sills, and yet at the same time operable from a point intermediate of the center sills and the car-side where it is easily accessible; obviating the necessity of climbing on top of the tank-car as is the case with some of the constructions at present employed. The constructions shown and herein described, we believe to be the simplest embodiments of our invention; certain modifications in details of construction may, however, be made without departing from the spirit of our invention, and we do not wish to be understood, therefore, as limiting ourselves to the exact constructions shown and described. I

What We claim is 1. In a tank car, a valve-cage terminating in a discharge conduit, with the `upper end removably secured to the tank and extend ing thereinto, a self-seating valve mounted in the upper end of said cage, and means mounted en the car underframe and disposed transversely of said discharge conduit whereby the valve may be controlled from the tank exterior.

2. In a tank car, a valve-cage terminating in a discharge conduit for the tank, the valve-cage being removably secured to the. tank intermediate of the center sills of the car underframe, a self-seating valve slidably mounted in said cage, and rotative means mounted on the center sills of the car underframe whereby said valve may be controlled. 1'05 3. A tank car, provided with a removable valve-cage constituting a discharge and depending intermediate of the center sills of the car underframe, a self-seating valve slidably mounted in the cage, a plug-valve rotatably mounted in the discharge end of said cage and operatively connected with the first valve, and rotative means mounted on the center sills whereby said valve may be moved ofi' its seat.

4. A tank car provided with a cast section y-in the bottom thereof, having depending portions adapted to come intermediate of the center sills of the car underframe, said ycastsection being provided with a tapped opening into the tank, a valve-cage removably secured in said tapped opening and terminating in a discharge conduit, a spring-controlled valve mounted in the up er art of said valve-cage and closable in t e direction of liow, a plug-valve rotatably mounted in the valve-cage beneath the first mentioned valve, a lever pivotally mounted on the plugvalve and having operative relation with the first valve, and means mounted on the cen- 130 tmdeweme, adapted to be Y ereto, wheeby said plug-valve may loe ,La ed and the mentioned Valve moved its Seat.,

5. At tank car. povded with am apeirtured @eating the longitudinal center of the tank., adapted to come ntemedate of and in engagement with the center sills of the oar under-Emme, e Velve-eege emovably secured n the epetute of said casting and having a 'valveeeet seid cage being elongated and consttutnfrn a discharge conduit depending between the sides o said Casting, a spring eontrollecl Wing-valve mounted on said seat and cloeelole in the d'eetom of flow, e plug- 'valve :eotetetly mounted n the lowef part of said Valvewge, a level' pvotally c011- neoted to Seid lug-valve and in operative engagement Wit said Wngvalve whereby the latter' is forced upwardly when the plugmlve is rotated into open position, and means secured to the center sill of the @am undelframe for rotating said plug-valve, said mesme being .adapted to receive a seal When the valves :we in closed position.

HENRY W. JACOBS. EDVJAR) D. LEVY. 7Witnesses:

ANNA M. Bemm, JT. H. BALBWN. 

